Categories of regions are the way the European Union divides territory according to economic development and assigns it a different level of support. They are based on the NUTS classification, specifically the NUTS 2 level, and are divided into less developed, transition and more developed regions according to gross domestic product per capita relative to the EU average. A region's classification directly affects the co-financing rate from EU funds: the less developed the region, the higher the share of eligible expenditure the Union contribution can cover, and the lower the own contribution that remains for the recipient. In Slovakia there has long been a difference between the Bratislava region, whose GDP per capita exceeds the EU average, and the rest of the territory. This is why some calls are closed to Bratislava projects, or stricter conditions apply to them. A region's classification changes between programming periods, so always check it in the current call.
See also: Project implementation location, Project co-financing, Allocation.
